Ng Ling Ling
Singapore
“My final appeal is to the Government, including the Ministry of Finance, to consider providing more budgets for MSF to gradually convert these social residential homes for the vulnerable to purpose-built Homes, like what the Ministry of Education (MOE) did for special education (SPED) schools over the past decades.”
“— everyone in social services who are working very hard to help our Singaporeans in need. I have two questions for the Minister. The first one is on social service research.”
“Chairman, I just have one clarification for the Minister for Health. I am really glad to hear about increase in healthcare subsidies for Singaporeans because it is always a good thing, but if it is on the back of continually increasing cost, then it begs the question of sustainability and the tax burden on our future generations.”
“For our Indian community, there are what we call Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), which is increasingly known in India. My question is, does MOH sees wisdom in beginning studies and understanding into such traditional medicines of our Malay and Indian communities too?”
“My clarification is that, for important issues, like climate change and also earlier, the ageing population, we have Senior Minister-level and Deputy Prime Minister-level coordination, whether this whole class of issues on PDPA, PSGA, cybersecurity, cybercrimes should coordination be taken at a more senior level, at Deputy Prime Minister…”
“The total age dependency ratio that the World Bank uses is the ratio of young and elderly dependents who are generally economically inactive, compared to the number of people of working age. Despite this good data from the World Bank, with an ageing population and declining TFR, there is still cause for concern.”
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Every one of 310 lines we hold for Ng Ling Ling, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 7.
“My suggestions notwithstanding, Sir, I support the Motion.”
“I am grateful to hear from the Minister of State Sun Xueling that efforts are being done by the Taskforce on Family Violence and will be progressively implemented. Moving on to proliferating the use of telehealth, I spoke about more use and subsidy support of telehealth and digital modes that augment physical and mental health support in several of my speeches in this House. One of the recent breakthrough in the form of Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) allowing the use of CHAS subsidies and MediSave for outpatient treatment via approved telehealth, like video-consultation, needs to be followed through with faster scaling and proliferation of proven telehealth protocols in the treatment of illnesses, especially chronic diseases, including mental illnesses. As our population continues to age, mobility issues of more seniors are likely to increase, and the use of hybrid physical and remote telehealth treatment protocols will be of increasing importance. The Government should take the inflexion in adoption of telehealth during the pandemic that we used to protect patients to push on in shaping such healthcare treatment and support as a new norm. This will also address the healthcare workers shortage and over-worked problems, though it will require short-term technology capital investment and change management processes for clinicians and patients. In conclusion, Mr Speaker, I am proud of how Singapore, our people, our leaders especially those on the Multi-Ministry Task Force, our Government and many unsung heroes have pulled strengths together to not only brace through but emerge strong after a difficult three years of pandemic. My heartfelt thanks again to everyone who has contributed one way or another in the fight of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“I also appreciate the swift actions taken by the Government, including improving standards of new dormitories for migrant workers and setting up a new MOM division to support migrant workers and dormitory operations. I am also very thankful to hear from the Minister for Manpower earlier on his comprehensive updates on what MOM has and will continue to do to ensure dormitory standards. I hope that this lesson will propel the Government to conduct a systematic scan during "peace time" to scrutinise every sector where lower-cost workers, including migrant ones, are employed to ensure that their employers or agents are regulated and made responsible to provide a certain standard of living, employee welfare and resources to integrate them in the community that they are working in, including the community around their work sites or dormitories. The next group of vulnerable individuals who suffered during the pandemic were children in families with family violence. I read with great dismay of the jump in the number of cases reported during the pandemic. From 7 April to 6 May 2020, there were 476 Police reports filed for offences commonly associated with family violence. This was a 22% increase compared with the monthly average of about 389 of such cases before the circuit breaker, according to the Police then. Some partners in social service agencies related to me their concerns and their constraints during those times to respond due to stay-home and safe-distancing measures. More flexibility for social workers and MSF having rights to remove children and family members suffering from family violence during times of crisis must be considered and instituted.”
“They are: one, comprehensively supporting all vulnerable groups, including transient residents like migrant workers in Singapore; and two, proliferating the use of telehealth in the management of illnesses, especially chronic diseases, including mental wellness support. Firstly, social and community support for vulnerable groups. An impressive $593 million was disbursed to around 480,000 unique beneficiaries across the pandemic period. They were given in the forms of Temporary Relief Fund, COVID-19 Support Grant, COVID-19 Recovery Grant - Temporary and COVID-19 Recovery Grant. What was most uplifting to me is that over 288 non-governmental groups and ground-ups partnered the Government to support the community, especially the vulnerable. The saying "A chain is no stronger than its weakest link, and life is after all a chain" by William James, an American historian and psychologist, reminds us of the importance of looking out for the vulnerable groups in our midst, especially during crisis times. Several Members of this House have spoken up about the clusters that emerged among the migrant worker dormitories and how transmission persisted and infection among migrants workers grew exponentially during the pandemic. This took most Singaporeans by surprise and shone a light on the living conditions of migrant workers. I am grateful to volunteer-run groups like Welcome In My Backyard (Wimby), COVID-19 Migrant Support Coalition (CMSC) and food-related initiative WeEat for their spirited actions during the most difficult times to bring much needed relief and support to our migrant workers.”
“Mr Speaker, unlike SARS in 2003, which caused serious illnesses but was well contained within infected groups, or the H1N1 flu virus in 2009, which was contagious but mild, COVID-19 was both contagious and prone to severe symptoms in high-risk groups, especially our seniors. This led to a pandemic of a generation, affecting Singaporeans in an unprecedented way for almost three years. I thank the team from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for drawing up a review and interviews with key participants in the crisis, including our Ministers, civil servants and representatives from the public, private and people sectors to encapsulate the key events, major issues and, more importantly, the lessons to be drawn and how we can prepare Singapore for the next pandemic or crisis in this White Paper. Relative to many other countries, we have done well in protecting both lives and livelihoods. Singapore's vaccination rates are among the highest in the world, thanks to a high level of trust that our people continue to place in the Government – a trust that is hard-earned and never to be taken for granted, as Minister of State Sun Xueling just mentioned in her speech. Our overall case fatality rate is one of the lowest globally. Still, we must always stay alert, nimble and adaptable to prepare for new challenges and nasty surprises. I agree with most of the reflections in the White Paper and will like to raise two areas of focus to fortify and protect Singapore and Singaporeans when another crisis of similar magnitude hits us.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I just have one clarification for the Senior Minister of State of Health. On the comment that MOH will take a risk-based approach and impose regulation mainly when there are patient safety risks especially, some GPs, in my constituency has asked, in preparation for Healthier SG, to the best intent, they wonder whether vaccination such as flu vaccine that is in the national vaccination recommendation, is allowed to be done in community clubs where the footfall is higher, where there is more natural flow and there are grassroots leaders who can share the benefit of being vaccinated. But whether that is actually out of premise and whether can they claim the subsidies for flu vaccination? I just wanted to ask: are these imposed after Healthcare Services (Amendment) Bill has been implemented to actually formally ask MOH before they do?”
“I would like to ask, for example, if a well-trained counsellor who is working within the physical premises or virtual mode of a licensee be able to share about what they can provide for mental health management? How about a TCM practitioner that has a partnership with a licensee, like a GP clinic: can the TCM practitioner publicise its services with the GP clinic? Mr Speaker, I would like to conclude by thanking the officers in MOH for working so hard over the past few years during COVID-19 pandemic and continually doing so in our efforts towards a healthier population against our fast-ageing society. Future-proofing our healthcare system and protecting our public and patients are of paramount priorities. A duty of care and doing no harm should be a guiding ethic and principle, not just for doctors, but for all players, including Integrated Plan insurers, third party administrators and online search engine optimisation platform providers that want to contribute a part in managing one of the greatest "wealth" of all mankind – our health. Mr Speaker, notwithstanding the clarifications that I have raised, I support the Bill. 7.00 pm”
“I wonder if MOH should be more explicit in the amendment Bill to provide rooms for having such an Advisory Panel, comprising highly qualified medical and non-medical experts, including researchers, respected and public-spirited health tech experts and even community leaders, who are committed to the best health interests of Singaporeans to present more comprehensive inputs in approvals covered by these new sections? This is to avoid precluding new or seemingly unconventional healthcare services or service delivery mode that may actually yield better health outcomes at more affordable costs to Singaporeans, without comprehensively assessing them first from more angles. The next clarification is on the advertisement of non-licensable healthcare services under the Act. The new section 31(A) prohibits the advertisement of any skill or service relating to the treatment of any ailment, disease or condition and so on, affecting the human body such that it induces a person to seek the advice of, or treatment from the advertiser or the person being advertised. However, this prohibition does not apply in relations to an advertisement of a licensable healthcare service by a licensee, or a person acting on the authority of a licensee. While the intent of the amendment is clear to me in protecting the public from being misinformed or misled by unethical parties, the latter leaves room for ambiguity. Will the section unintentionally deter building of awareness of new service delivery mode attempting to provide a more integrated health and psychosocial intervention to help those with chronic conditions and more complex illnesses, like mental illnesses, which require beyond medicine to treat.”
“" While I understand that this new section 11 is an extension to the replacement to the previous Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act that is more premise-based, to a more service-based legislation through HCSA first enacted amidst the thick of COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020, I would like to ask how these new sections would be judiciously administered, with a balance between safeguarding patient safety and not stifling the development of new and innovative healthcare services that can benefit Singaporeans? Furthermore, under clause 15, power is provided that regulatory action may be taken if a licensee contravenes or fails to comply, with any condition or requirement, relating to any approved permanent premises, approved conveyance, approved service delivery mode or approved specified services. My question, again, is how can this clause be judiciously administered in an environment where provision of healthcare services is becoming more complex and diverse? With the Healthier SG implementation and the stepping up on preventive health, will there be grey areas that will be more debatable and will placing the approvals on such broad areas on one senior public servant, the Director-General of Health, be placing too much onus and burden on one authority? I note that clause 23 allows appeals to the Minister. I would like to ask at which point might an Advisory Panel or sort, if any, be also involved for appeal cases? One of my personal observations for Singapore's success in riding through and managing COVID-19 pandemic so well, is that we have a panel of highly qualified and respected healthcare experts, with the humility to consult both local and global healthcare experts, and use data and evidence to make recommendations and decisions with our political leaders.”
“Mr Speaker, the Healthcare Services Act (HCSA) amendment Bill introduces a slew of changes aimed at better regulating healthcare services and providing greater transparency in their advertising to safeguard public interest in an environment of changing population health needs as our population ages. I will focus my speech on two of the proposed changes to seek some clarifications on one, the introduction of an approval framework for service delivery modes and specified services; and two, the regulations on the advertisement of non-licensable healthcare services under the Act. First, approval for the provision of licensable healthcare services. New sections 11(A), 11(B), 11(C), 11(D) give wide-ranging power and responsibilities to the Director-General of Health, currently called the Director of Medical Services, in granting an approval for any permanent premises, conveyance or other services' delivery mode, which I understand, can include telehealth, for licensable healthcare services of a licensee. Under section 3 of HCSA, health services definition is very broad and can range from, I quote: "assessment, diagnosis, treatment, prevention or elevation of any ailment, a condition, disability, disease, disorder or any injury affecting any part of the human body or mind, nursing or rehabilitation care of an individual suffering from an ailment, a condition, disability, disorder or an injury, assessment of the health of an individual.”
“Thank you, Chairman. My question is also for Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua. On the sheltered workshops, three questions. Firstly, how long is the wait list? The second question is, what kind of jobs are the additional 100 over places that you mentioned would be added this year? Thirdly, how else can the business sector help so that PwDs have a higher chance to stay engaged?”
“Chairman, the saying "it takes a village to raise a child" helps us appreciate how much more it takes to care for the underprivileged, vulnerable and those in need in our society. An ecosystem of willing and capable social service partners, each playing a role and contributing its strength and resources is key in keeping our social safety net and support system strong for those among us in need, to leave no one behind as far as possible. Social service partners not only include our hundreds of SSAs who provide the needed direct services across Singapore, but also companies who provide donations, staff, volunteers, employment opportunities as well as academia who conduct social intervention research, social entrepreneurs and many silent contributors who quietly nurture, enable and build lives around us as they see the needs. I would like to ask how the Government can enable these different groups to be more recognised, encouraged and connected, to make an even stronger collective social impact in the coming years. I would like to dedicate the final seconds of my final COS cut to all social service partners for your dedication, in your contribution for to make Singapore a caring nation. Competitive Social Service Sector”
“This is especially important for adults who acquired disabilities due to unexpected events like accidents, or major health episodes like stroke, an increasing concern I have from the plight of the residents I see and help in my Meet-the-People sessions. To enable more PwDs to be employed, this will require the utmost support and actions from potential employers. I would like to ask, how is the Ministry helping more small- and medium-sized enterprises to have suitable job coaches to help these PwDs with different types of disabilities to be able to take and sustain in those jobs?”
“Chairman, in 2021, the Enabling Masterplan Work Group recommended for the Government to strengthen the ecosystem for continuing education for PwDs by increasing the number of curated courses in sectors with growth opportunities and enhance the Open Door Programme (ODP) training grant to offer better support in specialised training. I believe that lifelong learning opportunities and social inclusion activity must be availed to PwDs, just like all other Singaporeans. However, we know that such learning and social inclusion activities as well as respite care for caregivers should be provided in an integrated way to best help out PwDs and their families. Can I ask for an update on the progress of EMP2030 implementation, especially in the provision of integrated learning, social inclusion and support services for PwDs and their caregivers? For earlier pilots like the Enabling Village at Lengkok Bahru, how is it achieving its goals and can such models be skilled to more regions? Enabling Businesses to Step Up for PwDs Chairman, according to the annual Comprehensive Labour Force survey, the average resident employment rate for PwDs aged 15 to 64 has risen from 28.2% to 30.1% from FY2018 to FY2020. There is also an increase in nominal median gross monthly income for these Singaporeans between the same period. This is an encouraging progress, a step towards a more inclusive workforce and a demonstration that more PwDs can contribute to our economy. Employment is not just essential for independence for adult PwDs, they provide dignity to them.”
“Mr Chairman, in my Budget debate speech last week, I spoke about the importance of supporting our young families amidst the rise in cost of living. Having affordable preschool is an important aspect of such support. When The Straits Times reported in October 2022 that several preschools would be increasing fees for 2023 due to rising costs, I was worried for our young families. I thus felt assured when the Government promptly announced thereafter that from 1 January this year, full-day childcare and infant care fee caps for Anchor Operator (AOP) and partner operator centres, like PCF Sparkletots Preschool and My First Skool will instead be lowered by $40, excluding Goods and Services Tax (GST). Kindergarten fee caps for anchor operator centres will also be lowered by $10, excluding GST. My question is, for estates where there are preschools not run by the AOP and partner operator centres and young families have no choice but to send their infants and preschoolers to these centres because of distance or shortage of places, can these subsidies be made portable for them?”
“Two, how can we keep Singaporeans, especially our younger people, understanding the version of stability, self-reliance and social mobility that will work for our people, and how can this be done to build a stronger social compact in the Foward SG efforts? Strengthening Marriages”
“Chairman, when I was in my 20s, my strong sense of social justice caused me to constantly question how much more welfare our Government can, and should provide for the less privileged among us. In my 50s now, and after spending about 16 years with the social service sector and another four years with the primary and community healthcare sector through my former job in the Public Service, I have a much deeper appreciation of what it takes to uplift the lives of those amongst us who need more support in Singapore. Challenging economic times can weaken the social fabric and inequalities, if left unchecked, can widen income gaps. Social mobility may slow if students from less financially able and stable families have lesser opportunities than their peers to optimise their potential. These are social trends that we are familiar with and there is much learning we can glean from developed countries with longer history and development, like the US, Europe and the Scandinavian countries. However, I wonder if our unique history, our nation-building philosophy that has seen us leapfrog from Third-World to First-World in one generation and our multiracial and multicultural society may yield us a context that requires us to delve deeper and consider social interventions and approaches that have and will work better for Singaporeans in the years ahead. In this aspect, I would like to ask two questions. One, how is the Government enabling more longitudinal and local research to understand what social intervention works and what does not for our different groups of underprivileged Singaporeans in need?”
“Thank you, Chairman. I have two clarifications for Minister Ong. The first one is on the good news of normalising telehealth. I am very glad to hear the response to my cut that the time limited extension of telehealth for CHAS subsidies and MediSave to be applicable for chronic disease management is going to come. But in the time extension, it was specified for video consultation. So, my clarification is for proven health technology – such as the class of remote vital signs monitoring technology, which has been proven effective for hypertension management, for example, in the United States as well as in pilots in Singapore – will they be considered? The second question I have is on the AACs. I cannot agree with the Minister more that community nodes like these are extremely important to motivate our seniors, especially to live actively and maintain their health. I want to ask how fast would the expansion plan be. I have two sites in my constituency that has no AAC. We have willing partners who are very keen to start. I would like to know a sense of the pace of expansion.”
“I would like to ask MOH how we can play a stronger role in deterring abuses towards our healthcare workers and whether more counselling support can be given to families whose loved ones are going through very complex illnesses in the hospital, so that besides being financially prepared, they are also emotionally prepared for the healing process. Manpower Situation”
“When I asked her what her motivations were to choose the nursing degree, she said that she wanted a job with a purpose, with direct impact to care for people in their most vulnerable times. She scored very well in her International Baccalaureate (IB) programme in the School of the Arts Singapore (SOTA) and our family is proud that she opted for the NUS nursing degree without hesitation, even though she had many other degree options. She has a sincere heart to care for people. However, my heart sinks whenever I read about cases of verbal or even physical abuse towards our nurses and other healthcare workers in our healthcare institutions. We owe it to our healthcare workers in bracing through heavy workload in almost three years of fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, they continue to face unnecessary harassment. On the other hand, I remember the ordeal that my family went through when a loved one was struck by a serious brain virus attack. I was promptly asked to go through financial counselling on his admission into the intensive care unit (ICU) to ensure that I am aware of his insurance and eligibility for Government subsidies, before choosing his hospital ward. While I gained financial clarity on his hospital stay, my family did not expect the emotional roller coaster in the following three months while his condition went up and down in the hospital. We had strong family support to breeze through, some frustrating times when no one had control over his healing. But I empathise with some caregivers who are struggling alone, with little support in similar situations and unwittingly turn their anger and frustrations on the nurses and doctors.”
“Mr Chairman, a key to the Healthier SG strategy is to pivot from just treating sickness when one is ill to an upstream preventive-health approach for a population-wide health management. I am glad that with this shift, Healthier SG will enable enrolment of Singaporeans, starting with 60 years and above later this year with the emphasis for them to build relationship with a trusted family doctor for their health planning and long-term health management. However, we all know that changing behaviours and lifestyle choices which are critical for preventive health and better health outcomes are way harder than popping a pill. As such, having strong nodes and connectors in the community to support and even conjure healthier lifestyles is essential for the full potential of Healthier SG to be reaped. This is important because Singaporeans are also living longer but facing challenges of higher disease prevalence and less family support, with seniors above 65 years old living alone or with a fellow senior having increased. On this note, I would like to ask what the planning parameters in expansion of AACs. I have checked about two years ago for such a centre in a part of my constituency, comprising mostly of 4-room, 5-room, executive and maisonette flats as I often meet seniors who are alone in their flats through my house visits. The phenomenon is the same in the private landed housing estates in my constituency. I would like to know if these locales can have Government-funded AACs too. Respect and Care for Healthcare Workers Chairman, I have a young cousin who has just entered the nursing profession after graduating from the NAtional University of Singapore (NUS) last year.”
“— Review Board of our public health institutions and the standards for healthcare efficacy assessments by MOH. Social-health Integration”
“The privilege to work with western medicine-trained doctors with strong research capabilities in the past few years has opened my knowledge on systematic and well-designed clinical research, that helps to provide data and insights for evidence-based conclusions on health intervention efficacy. My residents in Jalan Kayu also benefited for decades from the highly affordable TCM services by Sian Chay Medical Institution, a charity with the Institution of Public Character (IPC) status approved by MOH. I thus hope to see TCM being given a higher national role to play in keeping Singaporeans healthier, including in the Healthier SG initiative. I would like to ask how MOH would help willing TCM practitioners to embark on clinical research that will meet the high standards of the Institutional Review Board —”
“30 pm Second, what form of IT capabilities will be provided, especially if GPs are to treat more chronic disease patients and how will the set-up and recurrent costs of maintaining such IT capabilities be covered? Third, with more enrolled patients, there will inevitably be added administrative overheads. While such are often regarded as deadweight costs in public financing, they are real costs to GPs and how will they be supported? Lastly, before 3 April 2020, the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) subsidies and MediSave were not permitted for any telehealth or telemedicine services. During COVID-19, from 3 April 2020 and subsequently, 9 October 2020, a time-limited exception was provided by MOH for patients to use CHAS and MediSave for their regular follow-ups for all chronic conditions under the CDMP through video consultation. My question is, given the advancement in telehealth to help increase productivity and enhance patient self-management, should this time-limited exception be made a permanent provision instead, so that GPs can innovate and utilise more proven HealthTech solutions? Enabling Support for TCM Research I would like to declare my interest in leading environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts for an investment company that invests into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) businesses. Mr Chairman, I think I am not alone in benefiting from traditional Chinese herbs and medicines. While most of us would not be able to explain why TCM helps in improving various health conditions, almost all who believe in TCM know intuitively that there must be scientific reasons involved in the many herbs that nature provides and the non-invasive methods that work with our bodies which TCM adopts, to improve our health.”
“Mr Chairman, I had quite severe childhood asthma when I was growing up, but I have the GPs in my neighbourhood to thank for treating me and enabling me to grow up a healthy woman. I, thus, applaud the Government's move to place key roles on our primary care doctors in the Healthier SG initiative. I asked at the Healthier SG White Paper debate on how the slightly over $1 billion start-up budget would be used. I was thankful that besides the broad allocation of this amount, which will include a chunk to upgrade the capabilities and IT capabilities of GPs, Minister Ong Ye Kung added that there will be a recurrent expense of about $400 million annually, of which half will go to GPs as their capitated service fee for looking after enrolled patients. I did a probably highly inaccurate and overly simplistic back-of-the envelope estimate using $200 million annually, and assuming the total 1,250 GPs mentioned in MOH website on the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) are to all participate in Healthier SG, noting that this number includes specialist outpatient clinics. This may still come up to about over $100,000 per GP annually. I was hopeful that this substantial annual funding will make it business viable for most GPs, who operate business models and face cost pressures, just like any small- and medium-sized enterprises to fully support Healthier SG. Nonetheless, when I asked the GPs I know, there seems to be some mixed feelings and a need for further clarity around a few matters. First, while there will be a capitated service fee, how much of the GPs' current revenue will be impacted by the new subsidies criteria on the medications? 1.”
“Thank you, Chairman. I just have two clarifications for Senior Minister of State Amy Khor. I welcome the Friendly Streets pilot. I think that it is a great project. My question is, instead of it being just a standalone project with a committee, for constituencies that are entering into a major Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP), can it also be a standard, so that we can have a more collective and integrated plan for our residents. The second clarification is for the installing of lifts in the POBs. I am really glad to hear that it will be expanded in recognition of our ageing population. I have a block facing a POB. On one side is a very densely populated residential area but on the opposite side, is an industrial area. In the consultation with LTA, I have been informed that because the density is not high enough to justify this, it will be considered. I would just like to ask if there is a hope for it, so that my residents can hope for one day having the lift there as well because they are also ageing.”
“Madam, the lifting of restrictions on international travel is expected to help our aviation sector make a strong recovery post-COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst the increasing passenger volume and the aviation sector recovery will be good news to most, I would like to ask the Government some questions. One, is there better clarity now on the rate of recovery, especially the flow of travels to and from China? Two, how is the manpower growth in Changi Airport matching up with the recovery pace to ensure that our airport frontline and operations staff can cope with the increasing volume? Three, as the advisor to DNATA Singapore's Staff Union, I would like to know how the Government will ensure the welfare and safety of more than 1,000 staff providing the full range of aviation security and ground-handling services who will also be managing increasing volume? Lastly, as the aviation industry is a major contributor to carbon emission, how is the Government enabling more sustainable solutions, like the conversion to low carbon fuels, to align with Singapore's commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050? Recovery of Aviation Sector”
“Mdm Chair, this year, a new rule kicks in for cycling groups on roads to be kept at five in a single file or 10 if cycling two abreast. Besides space constraint on our road network, this is another measure to ensure road safety, an area that I feel strongly about in safeguarding lives. While there has been a positive increase in the popularity of cycling during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have also seen a spike in the number of traffic accidents involving cyclists. The number of such accidents rose to 572 cases in 2020, or 25% more than 2019. I am a keen supporter of cycling as a great sport to keep healthy but prefer that there be a dedicated cycling track separated from drivers and pedestrians as far as possible for safety reasons. In my Jalan Kayu Constituency, there is a stretch of vacant land, along Yio Chu Kang Road, on the south and Sengkang West Road on the east, that can be developed with dedicated cycling path all the way to the beautiful Seletar Aerospace area. I would like to ask the Government what are the considerations and how soon can such a development be approved and built?”
“The question is whether the Government or the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) will consider doing a review of what was projected in the 2013 White Paper on population, which had the mention of the 6.9 million population target by 2030, especially young people who are in the tertiary level now and young professionals.”
“Thank you, Chairman. I just have one clarification for Minister Indranee. The 6.9 million population target was first set out in the 2013 Population White Paper. I wanted to ask, will the Government consider doing a milestone progress review involving young people? I appreciate that population projection is a very complex matter, but will we at least involve tertiary students or young professionals who are trained in statistics, in economic modelling, in sociology? Because they were too young when the White Paper was set out in 2013, but they will be the group that will be in the prime of their working years when we reach 2030, when one in four are above 65 and they will have to shoulder quite a high burden. So, I just wanted a clarification on that.”
“The advantage of such an approach, guided by population projection experts and Government officers, is that more Singaporeans can have a deeper understanding on the issues and trade-offs, and own a stake in co-creating a future scenario that we aspire for our country and our future generations. I hope that the Government will consider my suggestion. Supporting Marriage and Parenthood”
“Mr Chairman, Singapore's population continues to age rapidly, with low birth rate and longer life expectancies. This means that soon, the number of citizens in the working ages could decline, a phenomenon that some other Asian countries, like Japan and China, are already facing. According to a recent study in 2021 on the long-term projections of economic growth in 47 prefectures of Japan, Japan's population's aging and decline has catastrophic impacts on the national and subnational economies. In its most pessimistic modelling, with zero immigration growth and without significant improvement in productivities, Japan's GDP can decline to levels back in the 1970s. While we know and have been confronting the rapidly ageing population with low birth rate problem for some time now in Singapore, does the Government perform similar modelling and long-term projections, to understand what are the degrees of changes we need in productivity improvement of our resident workforce and immigration policies, to reach what target GDP growth for the next five to 10 years? Given that we have a much smaller population compared to Japan, if our Government has similar modelling and long-term projection exercises, do we involve our people in the process of formulating the models, and discussing the scenario options and opportunities? If we do not have such co-creation process yet, can the Government consider developing one with the opportunities for a significant number of Singaporeans outside the Government, including both young and old, to be part of the process?”
“I also hope that the Government will strengthen the support for singles who wish to end singlehood, and increase their social networking opportunities, so that they can find suitable partners. Third, for employees, job security is their biggest concern. In recent months, several multinational companies (MNCs) that operate in Singapore such as Google and Twitter have begun to retrench workers. Besides attracting MNCs, grooming local companies is important too. Hence, I support the series of initiatives in this year's Budget that focuses on supporting local SMEs to invest in innovative projects and sectors to help them expand their businesses and venture abroad. Through this, they can provide more attractive jobs to Singaporeans. The Government will also step up efforts to help workers upgrade and renew their skills. I hope that in the next few years, the Government will let the Parliament know how effective these schemes are in helping Singaporeans secure good jobs. I think helping promising SMEs expand and allow their employees to be trained continually will help Singaporeans secure better job opportunities. Therefore, I support this year's Budget. (In English) Back to English, please. Mr Speaker, Budget 2023 shows the Government's commitment towards long-term economic planning amidst short-term inflationary pressures and weak economic growth projections. As we mark the 100th year of the birth of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, let us remember the values and foresights that our forefathers have in overcoming adversity and challenges to define and unite a nation. May we continue to carry on this strength and resilience as we move forward into a new era, shaping a brighter future for Singapore and Singaporeans together. On this note, Speaker, I support Budget 2023.”
“Hence, the "Moving forward in a new-era" Budget will help Singaporeans tide over the rising cost of living, look forward to and prepare for future economic opportunities. I support this initiative. The biggest impact on Singaporeans is the rising cost of living and the future outlook. I will focus on how the Budget can help Singaporeans, including senior citizens, families and workers, and provide feedback and suggestions on the Budget. First, for the elderly, they want to spend their golden years with a healthy body and a positive mind. To help seniors stay healthy, the Government has introduced the Healthier SG programme. In Jalan Kayu, our grassroots organisations have responded by setting up a new health club to help residents maintain good health through participating in a series of club activities. Hence, I strongly support the suite of assistance measures for the elderly in the Budget, such as extending the Senior Employment Credit, increasing the minimum monthly payout under the Retirement Sum Scheme as well as additional ElderCare Fund and MediFund to help seniors cope with long-term medical care expenses. In addition, as we move into a new era, I hope the Government will also pay attention to palliative care and allow palliative care to go into the community to meet the needs of an ageing population. Second, for families, the assistance proposed in the Budget such as increasing CPF Housing Grant, Baby Support Grant and topping up of Baby Bonus Cash Gift and the Child Development Account will help ease some of the worries that young couples have about starting a family and having children.”
“In helping with the costs of having and raising children, I hope that initiatives such as the increase of Baby Bonus Cash Gift by $3,000 for all eligible Singaporean children and increase in contributions to the Child Development Account to offset preschool and healthcare expenses as well as support for more flexible work arrangements will have some effect in reversing our stubbornly low total fertility rate. However, I would like to go more upstream and suggest that the Government enable more resources to enable social interactions among our young people. According to the Marriage and Parenthood Survey 2021, 80% of young single respondents in that survey indicated that they intend to get married but only 50% of them are dating. Of the other 50% who are not dating, 38% of those said that they have not dated before. Fifty-eight percent of them expressed having a limited social circle and 57% of them said that they do not have many opportunities to meet potential partners. Although there has been a growing acceptance for online dating methods, most individuals still prefer meeting potential partners through more organic and face-to-face meetings – 80% of them, through that survey. A more local community approach may be a suitable alternative for the Government to consider to encourage more organic social mingling. As this is a Budget that prepares Singaporeans for the future era, I hope that the Government will be open to investing money to help singles to expand their social circle and actively encourage our singles to mingle. Mr Speaker, please allow me to say some words in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, Singapore faces a complex and challenging external environment now and in the next few years.”
“However, there must continue to be considerations for also non-monetary support such as the expansion of Active Ageing Centres, Senior Day Care Centres and Dementia Day Care Centres across Singapore. We must not stop at just estates with higher concentration of lower-income seniors but care for seniors living also in private estates who may be seemingly asset rich but are genuinely cash poor. In the older landed private estates like Seletar Hills in my constituency, I often come across residents in their retirement who have purchased their houses decades ago when the prices were way below the current market prices. Many understandably stay on because of the familiarity of the environment. They too need eldercare support funded by the Government. I will speak more about this during my Committee of Supply cuts. Lastly, supporting our young people, young couples and families. I resonate with the aspirations of our young people, couples and families because I was also young once. I would like to speak about supporting them to help them build an even brighter future in Singapore. We dedicated last year as "The Year of Celebrating SG Families" and there were many discussions on strengthening support for our young couples and families. I am glad that the Government will be doing more by increasing the CPF Housing Grant by $30,000 for eligible first-time families purchasing 4-room or smaller resale flats and by $10,000 more for those purchasing 5-room or larger flats.”
“In my Jalan Kayu constituency, they make up about 22% of our residents if we count above 60 years old but a lower 8% if we count above 70 years old. This presents opportunities for us to promote preventive health and chronic disease awareness and management actively in my constituency, to help our residents take charge of their health from their early senior years. Therefore, I keenly look forward to the rollout of the Healthier SG later this year, which I spoke in support of during the White Paper debate and will speak more about during my Committee of Supply cuts. Our grassroots leaders proactively piloted our first Jalan Kayu Community Health Club (JKCHC) in February to begin to connect the ecosystem of regional health partners, family doctors, social and sports agencies as well as community groups to complement the national Healthier SG rollout at our local level. However, even as we step up efforts to manage our own health better as we age, there will always be a segment of more vulnerable seniors who need more help. Many of our seniors who seek assistance at my Meet-the-People Sessions often share their concerns of rising healthcare costs and their working adult children feel the pressure of supporting them while bringing up their own children. I thus look forward to more details on the Government's plan to top up an additional $500 million for ElderCare Fund and $1.5 billion to MediFund to help lower-income seniors with their long-term healthcare needs. With the current elevated inflation, we need to continue to assure a common seniors' concern of "money not enough" when they no longer have active recurring employment income. The slew of support under the permanent GST voucher scheme and enhanced Assurance Package is most welcomed.”
“In this aspect, do we have a systematic tracking of the growth of local companies under the $1 billion Singapore Global Enterprises initiative or the additional $150 million SME Co-Investment Fund, especially for the number of SMEs levelling up consistently across the years to be on track to become large local enterprises with annual group company revenue exceeding $100 million and with regional or even global footprints? SMEs make up a significant portion of the total number of enterprises in Singapore, at about 99% of all enterprises and supporting 71% of total employment in 2021. May I suggest that the Government consider publishing more systematic reports on medium-sized enterprises and large local enterprises and the percentage of local employment they are providing to inspire more local enterprises to punch above their weight and grow beyond being a small or medium enterprise. As working adults enter their mid-lives in their forties and fifties, I am assured that attention continues to be given to help them keep pace with changes and stay employed. I look forward to the implementation of the new Jobs-Skills Integrators initiative, especially on the data on how the new effort is improving the job and skill matches of mature workers to help them remain employable. The efforts for more vulnerable groups, including low-wage workers, seniors wishing to continue work, ex-offenders and persons with disabilities, are also important to ensure an inclusive workforce. I will speak more about employment for persons with disabilities in my Committee of Supply cuts. Now, let me move to the next group, to another important group of Singaporeans – our seniors.”
“3% who are in freelance or part-time or temporary employment and the 3.6% who remained unemployed and are still looking for a job. For these unemployed or under-employed graduates, while the proportion is small, the question is if their progression would inevitably be pushed behind their peers. What about the non-graduates who completed their highest education in polytechnic or ITE? How is the Government monitoring the cohort progression and targeting assistance to provide levelling up opportunities at milestone stages of their early work life? I like that the National Productivity Fund will be topped up substantially by $4 billion with an expanded scope to support investment promotion, besides productivity enhancements and continuing education and training. I would like to understand how the Government is monitoring that these funding translates to better and more innovative jobs for our young people? Census 2020 showed that our old-age dependency ratio has increased from 13.5% in 2010 to 23.4% in 2020. I do not have to belabour the well-known projection that we will have one in four Singaporeans over 65 years old by 2030. Maximising the potential and progression of every cohort of our young Singaporeans graduating from universities, polytechnics or ITEs from now on, is ever more pressing to help them manage the burden that they will carry as our population continues to age. We must constantly mitigate against the risks of Singapore's economic dynamism and competitiveness with a potentially shrinking pool of working adults.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would first like to declare my role in leading environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts in an investment company. Sir, Budget 2023, with its focus on supporting Singapore and Singaporeans to progress with confidence in a more uncertain world, sets the stage for our next phase of growth after battling almost three years of COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, I rose to speak on three areas in my Budget Debate speech to urge stronger efforts by our Government to ensure: one, social mobility amidst COVID-19, economic restructuring and digitalisation; two, managing long-term healthcare needs; and three, fulfilling the housing aspirations of our younger generation. I want to thank all Government officers and stakeholders for the contributions you have made, in making progress on all these fronts in the past year. For this year's Budget, I would like to continue focusing my speech on considerations and support for our working adults, our seniors, our young couples and families. First, supporting our working adults. In my Jalan Kayu constituency, the largest segment of residents is aged between 20 and 60 years. This phase of life covers most of our productive work years, from getting our first job to staying gainfully employed over the decades and hopefully looking forward to retirement with confidence and comfort. Yet, we know that the realities in this age range is far from easy going, especially in a world of high global competition, slowing social mobility and prolonged ageing population. While I was delighted to read the recent Straits Times article on 21 February 2023 that more fresh university graduates in full-time permanent roles – comprising 87.5% of the cohort – have gotten higher pay, I wonder about the 6.”
“Each one of us must take responsibility for our own lives, and above all, show respect and love for living things around us, especially each other." This quote comes close to my heart as I speak on this Bill. I believe everyone is responsible for keeping our community clean and liveable. It is the ultimate mark of mutual respect for one another to help take care of our environment. I would like to end my speech with a deep thanks to all our cleaning, waste collection and waste disposal workers for your daily hard work in keeping Singapore clean. And let us all also do our part. Notwithstanding my considerations raised, I support the Bill.”
“I also hope that the Government will step up the education and disciplinary measures for repeat offenders and raise their awareness of environmental public health through compulsory education or Corrective Work Orders (CWO) programmes. Second, I understand that the Government will amend the waste management licensing framework to encourage businesses to raise wages at all levels to help attract and retain workers, and to ensure that they have sufficient funds to train workers to raise their productivity. However, I am also worried that requiring businesses to comply with the salaries set by the authorities will cause them to raise prices. Therefore, I hope that the Government will set up the waste management innovation fund to encourage businesses to adopt innovative and fully automated technology tools, as well as strengthen the staff training to raise productivity. Third, I also support the Government's move to amend the licensing framework for waste management operators to prepare them for the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) to be implemented from July 2023. The implementation of PWM will benefit about 3,000 local workers. While raising the basic salary of workers, I also hope that the Government and unions will pay more attention to the welfare of waste management workers and cleaners. I suggest providing better public social assistance and considering setting up a waste management worker recreation centre, similar to the Migrant Workers' Centre Recreation Club, to provide them with recreational activities to help them relax. (In English): Mr Speaker, let me end my speech with a quote by renowned conservationist, Dr Jane Goodall. She said, "Each one of us matters, has a role to play, and makes a difference.”
“Lastly, the new proposed sections 23A(2) and 31AA(2) are introduced to enable regulations to be made to require waste collector and waste disposal licensees to implement the PWM for their workers. I am very supportive of this move by MSE to legislate and enable workers from the waste management sector to benefit also from the PWM. Besides baseline wage growth through PWM, I hope that the Government can consider the intangible aspects of the cleaning and waste management sectors by enhancing respect, dignity and appreciation for our cleaners and workers in these sectors. I hope MSE can strengthen tripartite cooperation within the sector to create platforms through the Government, employers and union to give social support and recognition to these workers. Similar to the Migrant Workers' Centre Recreation Club, I would like to suggest that the Government work with the union to set up a recreation club for our cleaners and workers from the waste management sectors to better support their social recreational needs, mental well-being and to show appreciation for the hard work and dedication that these unsung heroes give to keep our environment clean. Mr Speaker, please allow me to speak some words in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, I support the Environmental Public Health (Amendment) Bill tabled by NEA. I have some comments and suggestions. First, the Bill will add a new presumption clause to HDB high-rise littering cases to assume that the registered owner is the offender. I feel that the addition will enhance the deterrent effect and the awareness of flat owners and tenants on public health issues and make them take on greater responsibility to prevent littering from their units.”
“Secondly, the Bill seeks to amend section 80G to enable the Director-General of Public Health to issue different classes of cleaning business licences and to replace the eligibility criterion for an applicant of a cleaning business to meet certain paid-up capital, bizSAFE certification and clean record with no conviction. Although I understand the intention for these higher standards is to drive up public health standards of cleaning businesses, I would like to seek clarifications from MSE whether considerations have been given to potential cost increases that cleaning companies may face to meet these higher licensing requirements. Cleaning companies are already facing manpower crunch and higher costs to implement the PWM. Has MSE considered what further costs may cleaning companies need to incur to meet the requirements and who these costs will be passed to? Instead of merely imposing higher licensing requirements, like my fellow hon Parliamentary Member, Ms Poh Li San, I would like to suggest for MSE to work across relevant agencies and Ministries to provide concurrently an automation and capabilities enhancement grant with platforms that cleaning companies can learn what practical and scalable automation they can utilise in their cleaning processes, such as enabling them with knowledge and grants or partnership with Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to experiment with technologies like cleaning robots in HDB flats to see how this technology needs to be iterated and enhanced for it to work in the estates at higher scalability. I hope this will enable the cleaning companies to increase productivity even as they need to invest in more essential costs to keep higher standards.”
“Many residents are not only asking for their homes to be kept clean and safe from such unwanted litters, but they also raised a valid fire safety concern, especially when the clothes that they hang out for drying catch the cigarette ashes and butts. Our Town Council cleaners are often called upon to clean up these litters thrown down by irresponsible home owners or tenants, spreading the cleaners thin on their daily cleaning duties in the estate. Between 2019 and 2022, 54% of total high-rise littering offences enforced by NEA were for high-rise cigarette butt littering. A stronger deterrent through adding clause 17A is a policy enhancement that I support to change behaviours and habits. In addition, I hope to recommend that stronger penalties be imposed on high-rise littering re-offenders. Currently, under the amendment Bill, individuals who commit a littering offence is liable on conviction to a Court fine of up to $2,000 for a first conviction and higher amounts of $4,000 to $10,000 on second and subsequent convictions. Furthermore, a Corrective Work Order (CWO) for up to 12 hours can also be imposed by the Court. For first-time offenders, a fine of $2,000 may be able to deter them from committing the offence further. However, for repeat offenders, I wonder if there are deeper habitual behavioural issues causing them not to be able to restrain themselves from such irresponsible actions. Besides monetary fines to seek behavioural changes, I suggest that a CWO be complemented with a mandatory education or counselling session for re-offenders so that we can address root causes leading to these re-offences.”
“Mr Speaker, in 2020, when the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) amended the Environmental Public Health Act, Minister Grace Fu spoke about the aim of the Government to keep Singapore clean and safe through collective action and co-ownership. I agree with this approach. I am thus very heartened to read the further introduction of the Environmental Public Health (Amendment) Bill, with a focus on issues close to the hearts and lives of most of our residents. Ensuring a cleaner living environment in our estates and uplifting the waste management and cleaning sector in Singapore are areas I believe to be important to attain high public health standards for a better quality of life for all Singaporeans, including my residents in Jalan Kayu. My speech will focus on three considerations related to the Bill: one, suggestion for mandatory education or counselling for re-offenders of high-rise littering; two, cost considerations for the proposed revision in the cleaning business licensing framework; and three, creating a conducive environment to uplift workers of waste collection and waste disposal services. Firstly, on MSE’s proposed insertion of a new section 17A which would presume that the act of high-rise littering from a residential flat is committed by its owners or tenants, I am supportive of it as a stronger deterrent against high-rise littering. I recall in October last year, Minister Grace Fu shared in this House that the number of complaints about high-rise littering had almost doubled from an average of 16,000 annually before 2016 to 32,000 cases in 2021. A major concern I often hear from my residents is the high-rise littering of cigarette ashes and butts.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to thank Minister for Health and the Minister for Transport for the very useful Statements that help to prepare Singaporeans as China opens up, to lead as normal a life as possible as we have been very steadfast, as we had our opening measures. I wanted to seek a clarification from Minister Ong. Should a new and dangerous variant emerged, what is likely the protocol that will be adopted, as most Singaporeans have cooperated and been fully vaccinated, and also gotten used to the concept of living with COVID-19 as an endemic as a way of life? A clarification for Minister Iswaran: what is MOT's projected timeline for travellers from China to return to pre-COVID-19 volume?”
“Mr Speaker, I struggled with my speech for many months, like many hon Parliamentarians who have spoken out in these two days of Debate. In the end, it was the reconciliation of my mind, of the duty I have as a Parliamentarian, and my heart, which holds respect and care for people, that I accept the need for the repeal and the important amendments to our Constitution, which will leave space for us as a people to continue to forge understanding, reconciliation and a future together.”
“I will not repeat the studies and surveys that several of my fellow hon Parliamentarians have mentioned about the attitudes towards the repeal of section 377A among our younger generation. I will share that, in a Youth Network dialogue session, which I attended shortly after the National Day Rally this year, almost the full hall of youth audience between the ages of 15 and 35, raised their hands in support of the repeal of section 377A. On further dialogue, I learned that most youths are of the view that a law that will not be enforced is better off removed. I understand the views of the youths. But what touched me most in that session were a few young adults, who shared that they regretted being too quick to judge and being insensitive in their teenage years when some peers struggled with their sexual identity in their puberty years. With more maturity now, they felt that they could have been more supportive. One even contacted me for opportunities in social service agencies to serve as a counsellor for the homosexual individuals who may be in need, like how we would have helped any other individuals who are in need in Singapore. As a trusted friend of a few homosexual individuals, some of whom I have known since school days, I have heard their stories of life's challenges, of loss and of regaining of hopes. What they taught me as a friend is the need for human kindness, compassion and love to prevail over judgement and stigmatisation. As we propose the repeal of section 377A in our Penal Code and amend our Constitution for the Parliament of the day to be able to reflect our majority electorate's values on the definition of families in Singapore, let us do so with always a care for our fellow Singaporeans at heart, no matter how diverse we are.”
“Looking at the recent developments in other jurisdictions like India, India's Supreme Court struck down part of the section 377 of their Indian Penal Code, which also criminalised gay sex. It went further to redefine marriage and familial relationships. As recent as in August this year, India's Supreme Court widened the definition of the family institution and ruled that familial relationships, "can also take the form of domestic, unmarried partnerships and queer relationships." To me, what happened in India gives a glimpse of the implications on societal norms when the judiciary branch of the government, which is the courts, instead of the legislative branch of the government, which is the parliament, began to interpret what are social norms, because the legislative branch, that is, the Parliament, avoided dealing with the matter. As such, I think it is right for this Parliament of Singapore to debate and decide on the risks posed by recent constitutional challenges that our Court is also facing in terms of section 377A in our Penal Code, with the most recent one in just February this year in the case of Tan Seng Kee vs Attorney-General. As I am not a trained lawyer, I will not dwell further into the legality of this case, which Minister Shanmugam has also explained yesterday. Suffice to say that I am of the view that this Parliament has the duty to set in place constitutional amendments to clarify our definitions of marriage and family. In this regard, I have also taken careful note, as a community leader, of the wider views, especially among our younger generation, whose views must also be valued.”